Tigers take care of Southaven, prepare for divisional champ round with Starkville

By Myra Bean

Just when it looks like 1-5A was all set, Starkville throws a wrench in the mix and makes things a little more interesting.

While South Panola was taking its win streak to 69 with a 27-14 win over Southaven, Starkville was putting a 14-7 hurt on Olive Branch.

For the first time since 2004, Olive Branch has lost to a team other than South Panola.

The weather seemed to have been a factor in three states as teams like South Panola and Southaven found themselves playing on wet, muddy surfaces as the temperature steadily dropped.

That Starkville win upped the excitement for this Friday’s game when the Tigers host Starkville in a 1-5A matchup.

“Divisional championship’s on the line now,” Tiger head coach Lance Pogue said. “I know they are coming in with a lot of confidence. It is kind of up to us to have a good week, to get ourselves prepared both mentally and physically. It will be an emotional game, big rivalry through the years. We will try to get everybody healthy this week and lay it on the line Friday night.”

Against Southaven, South Panola put up a quick 14 points in the first quarter.

Tiger leading rusher Darius “Tig” Barksdale scored the first touchdown, breaking for a 64-yard run on the  Tigers’ first possession with 8:58 on the clock.

The three play drive was aided by an eight-yard pass from David Renfroe to Mario Nash to the 36 to set up the Barksdale run.

Barksdale rushed for 256 yards on 25 carries for the evening  and two touchdowns.

The second touchdown came on a Justin Market 26-yard run on the Tigers’ second possession with 5:48 to go.

Barksdale carried the ball on the first play from the Tigers’ 31 to the Southaven 26 to set up the run.

David Renfroe’s two PATs gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead.

On Southaven’s next possession, the Tigers thought they had a Bud Barksdale interception but it was negated due to a pass interference call.

Southaven put together a touchdown drive in the second quarter which started on their own 36 yard line after a Tiger punt. On a first and goal from the five, Southaven quarterback Joel Rich scored with 2:46 left in the first half.

The Tigers were trying to pad their halftime lead and pushing toward the end zone when Southaven intercepted the ball in the end zone with 1:30 left in the half.

Renfroe was trying to find Xavier Lee in the end zone, but the Southaven defender went over  him and came down with the interception.

South Panola put up two more scores in the second half. It took more plays in the drive to score on the possession after the kickoff.

Barksdale scored on a 28-yard run with 8:12 left, going up his left side. The Tigers had to convert a fourth down and one to keep the drive alive.

Renfroe’s PAT was no good due to a bad snap. The drive covered 66 yards in six plays.

Southaven’s next drive ended on an interception by Bud Barksdale with 7:10 on the clock.

Then the Tigers turned the ball over on a fumble with 2:09 left in the quarter.

The Tiger defense came on strong as defensive lineman Terrance Pope sacked Rich on second down to the 10 yard line. Southaven punted the possession away and the Tigers led 20-7 going into the fourth quarter.

The third touchdown by Market for the Tigers’ last touchdown took a while as he had to go back to the 10 yard line and then cut back up and went in for the score.

Renfroe’s PAT at 9:13 gave the Tigers a 27-7 lead.

On the Chargers’ next possession, Pope had his second sack of the night on second down.  Southaven turned the ball over on downs. Then the Tigers drove to the Southaven 24 but turned the ball over on downs.

Southaven made good on its last possession scoring on a nine yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Tyler Brant to Jarrious Farley with 57.9 seconds left in the game. The PAT by Brant as good.

The Tigers had 381 yards in total offense, including 351 rushing and 30 passing.

Penalties again plagued the Tigers as they lost 145 yards on eight flags.

The Tigers threw one interception and lost a fumble.

Southaven had 145 yards of total offense with 59 rushing and 86 passing. The Chargers had four penalties for 20 yards and one interception.

Other rushers for the Tigers were Nicholas Parker, 42 yards on eight carries and Market, 34 yards on five carries and two touchdowns.

Renfroe completed four of six passes for 30 yards.

Nash had three receptions for 23 yards and Jevon Robertson had one catch for seven yards.

Tickets for the game Friday will be sold Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the high school. The ticket booth opens at 6 p.m.